Latest news with #NampoHarvestDay
IOL News
19-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Building a better future: the need for national dialogue in South Africa
President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent attendance at the Nampo Harvest Day. Judging by the volumes of fake news and hate speech and more importantly the painful levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality experienced by most South Africans, the President's call must be supported and expedited. Image: GCIS President Cyril Ramaphosa made a call for National Dialogue in his address to Parliament shortly after the 2024 elections. Judging by the volumes of fake news and hate speech and more importantly the painful levels of unemployment, poverty and inequality experienced by most South Africans, the President's call must be supported and expedited. Despite our daunting challenges as a nation, we should not forget the massive strides we have accomplished since our hard-won democratic breakthrough in 1994. Not only we have repealed the numerous racist laws that did so much damage, but the state today spends more than 61% of the Budget invested in uplifting working-class communities. Yet with 43.1% overall and 72% youth unemployment rates, and our status as the world's most unequal society, we dare not rest. The damage done by the decade of state capture and corruption are well known, and whilst we applaud the progress in uprooting this cancer and reintroducing a sense of transparency and accountability across the state, much more needs to be done to end this shameful chapter, in particular sending those politicians, officials and businesspersons who stole billions from the public to prison. 2025 has seen a flurry of fake news on social media aimed at not only undermining South Africa's hard-won democracy and sovereignty but also our constitutionally sanctioned transformation journey. Whilst some instances of racist incitement must be dealt with by law enforcement, others need to be tackled by the President's call to a National Dialogue and more importantly by a concrete set of actions afterwards. Judging by the vitriolic of much of our public discourse, we need to pay much greater attention to our entrenched socio-economic challenges fueling this deep sense of alienation across parts of society. These must be anchored in government's Budget and legislation but also by tangible commitments by the private sector and ordinary citizens. Much has been said about the 49 South African migrants who departed for the US, we have far greater concerns to worry about, including the brain drain of skilled workers over the past few decades to far wealthier economies across the world. We must ask collectively, as government, business, labour and society, what is to be done and what are our specific contributions to building that better life for all? First, we must fix the state to capacitate public services, municipalities and State-Owned Enterprises to provide the services that working class communities and the economy depend upon. This includes expediting the infrastructure investment programme and providing relief for the poor. This requires a bold and progressive Budget be tabled at Parliament that invests and does not starve the state of the resources it requires to fulfill its constitutional mandates. The private sector too must play its part. This includes respecting our labour laws, embracing the principles of decent work and paying workers a living wage. Employees at any workplace are its most valuable asset, employers need to treat them as such. Undermining workers' rights is a recipe for labour market instability and undermines productivity. Employers need to hire South Africans first. We cannot sustain a society when four out of ten South Africans cannot find work, yet thousands of low skilled jobs are available and local youth are not prioritised. This trend across many sectors of the economy is extremely dangerous and has erupted into outbreaks of xenophobic violence in the recent past. It is time that lip service to support locally produced goods, from clothes to food, from furniture to cars, is translated into concrete procurement by government, businesses and us as ordinary citizens. This is the most powerful way to support local businesses, create badly needed jobs and sustain economic growth. Localisation must extend to our investment and pension funds. They need to prioritise investments in our mining, manufacturing and agricultural sectors amongst others. It is only when our companies shift their investments to South Africa, that we will be able to unlock the 3% economic growth needed to tackle unemployment. Employers need to engage with unions in good faith and seek alternatives to retrenchments as required by the Labour Relations Act. We should not be adding to an already dangerously high unemployment rate. This requires the Unemployment Insurance Fund's Temporary Employee Relief Scheme to be fixed and other public and private financial support for struggling businesses to be accessible to give these companies and their employees a fighting chance. The Public Employment Programmes as well as internships and artisanships across the private sector need to be drastically ramped up to provide a path towards employment for millions of young people. This includes providing capital, training and market access for aspirant entrepreneurs. If we are genuinely committed to social cohesion, then workers need to be paid a living wage. Well paid workers are not only motivated but also able to buy the goods that the economy produces. If we are serious about social cohesion, then we need to reduce the obscene wage gap, still so prevalent across the private sector between the highest and lowest paid employees. These amongst other interventions can provide the foundations for not only a growing but a more inclusive economy and a progressive developmental state. These will lay the foundations for a more equal and just society. Much of the responsibility for these rests with the state and also the private sector. There are elements that we as ordinary citizens are responsible for as well. Government puts in place our legislative and governance frameworks, but we must help ensure their implementation. We should not be content to outsource the nurturing of the democracy that generations sacrificed so much to secure, to others to nurture and defend. Similarly, we must not take for granted our vision of a non-racial, non-sexist society. Our actions must constantly speak to this call of the Freedom Charter. This requires all of us to spend more time listening to and addressing the concerns of society, in particular the most vulnerable. Solly Phetoe is the Cosatu General Secretary. Solly Phetoe. Image: File BUSINESS REPORT
IOL News
16-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Ramaphosa at Nampo: A calculated move amid mounting domestic and international pressures
Independent Media Editor-in-Chief, Adri Senekal de Wet. Image: Picture: Ian Landsberg PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa's recent attendance at the Nampo Harvest Day, a premier agricultural event in Bothaville, marks a significant shift in his engagement with South Africa's farming community. This visit, his first since assuming the presidency, comes at a time when the nation grapples with escalating domestic challenges and strained international relations, particularly with the United States. Ramaphosa's presence at Nampo can be seen as an attempt to bridge the widening gap between the government and the agricultural sector. The farming community has expressed concerns over land reform policies, security issues, and economic uncertainties. By attending Nampo, Ramaphosa aimed to reassure farmers of his commitment to addressing these challenges and to foster a sense of unity and cooperation. During the event, Ramaphosa referred to 49 Afrikaners who recently emigrated to the US as 'cowards', criticising their departure amid South Africa's transformation efforts. This statement sparked backlash from groups such as AfriForum, which argued that the President should focus on creating a conducive environment that discourages emigration rather than chastising those who leave. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa's recent attendance at the Nampo Harvest Day, a premier agricultural event in Bothaville, marks a significant shift in his engagement with South Africa's farming community. Image: GCIS Ramaphosa's visit to Nampo precedes his scheduled meeting with US President Donald Trump. The bilateral talks aim to address tensions arising from the US granting refugee status to white South Africans and differing views on land reform and foreign policy. The meeting presents an opportunity for Ramaphosa to clarify South Africa's positions and to seek a reset in strategic relations. South Africa faces significant internal issues, including a rising unemployment rate, which reached 32.9% in the first quarter of this year. The expanded definition, accounting for discouraged job seekers, indicates an even higher rate of 43.1%. Corruption remains a pervasive problem, with Transparency International's 2025 report highlighting stagnation in anti-corruption efforts. The country's score on the Corruption Perceptions Index remains below the global average, signalling a need for more robust governance measures. The enactment of the Expropriation Act, allowing land seizures without compensation under specific conditions, has drawn international scrutiny. Critics argue that the policy could deter investment and exacerbate racial tensions. The US administration's response, including granting asylum to white South Africans, underscores the global ramifications of domestic policies. Ramaphosa's engagement with the agricultural sector and forthcoming discussions with international leaders highlight the delicate balance required to address domestic concerns while maintaining favourable international relations. Transparency, inclusive dialogue, and decisive action are crucial in steering South Africa toward a more stable and prosperous future for all its citizens. * Adri Senekal de Wet is editor-in-chief of Independent Media.
TimesLIVE
16-05-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
'They made a mistake': Steenhuisen slams Afrikaners who fled to US
Minister of agriculture John Steenhuisen has criticised the group of 49 Afrikaners who recently sought refuge in the US, saying they have made a mistake. Steenhuisen was speaking at Nampo Harvest Day in Bothaville, Free State, on Friday. 'We can't determine where people live and what their life choices are. I think they've made a mistake,' he said. 'We are on the cusp of great things in South Africa with a new government, new energy and new growth initiatives. I think South Africa will start to take off in a major way and become the envy of the world.' He expressed his commitment to supporting farm workers, farm owners and the agricultural industry, urging them to stay and contribute to the country's development. 'They will get my full attention and support during my time as a minister.'
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Agricultural innovation takes centre stage at Nampo Harvest Day 2025
Agricultural experts continue to heap praise at the Nampo Harvest Day conference, which entered the second day o in Bothaville in the Free State on Wednesday. South Africa's agricultural industry has highlighted its resilience in the face of many challenges at the 2025 Nampo Harvest Day conference, which entered the second day on Wednesday in Bothaville in the Free State. Brendan Jacobs, head of agribusiness at Standard Bank South Africa, said agriculture was under pressure from rising input costs, extreme weather events, tightening margins, and trade agreement challenges. 'Nampo Harvest Day 2025 arrives at a pivotal moment for South Africa's farming sector. This year's Nampo is more than an exhibition; it is a rallying point for real-world, farmer-led solutions. "From mechanisation and market access to financial tools and agri-tech, the event brings together farmers, agribusinesses, and financiers to explore what it will take to sustain growth and resilience across the sector.' Jacobs said the discussions at Nampo were foscused on enabling long-term resilience in the sector. He said that as trade uncertainty looms, especially around the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) and shifting global trade dynamics, there was growing urgency to expand regional trade and create new pathways for South African produce into other global markets. 'One such market is furthering trade into Africa, and we are very excited as Standard Bank to be hosting our Heads of Agribusiness from 14 other African countries at Nampo 2025," he said. "We look forward to the opportunity of connecting our South African clients with leaders in these countries in which we operate on the continent for potential opportunities and simultaneously for our colleagues from these countries to take best practices identified at Nampo back to their environments.' Jacobs said that with South Africa exporting over half its agricultural production by value, and nearly 26% by volume, the resilience of the sector depended on agility in the face of both global and domestic shifts. 'This is arguably one of the most significant years for agriculture in decades. Whether we are talking about export markets or sustainability, success will hinge on how well we align policy, innovation, and grassroots execution to support those who feed the nation," he said. Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, said Nampo was well attended and the mood was upbeat amongst farmers when he was a panellist on Tuesday. "I also participated in a panel discussion hosted by Nation In Conversion. In front of a packed studio audience, we focused on South Africa's agriculture outlook. We covered agricultural production, trade, macroeconomic conditions, and the global political environment, among other themes,' he said. Sihlobo added that the various commodity associations, anchors of South Africa's commercial agriculture, were also present, and multiple stakeholders were engaged. 'The farm stalls would not miss the opportunity to showcase the cuisine and 'koeksisters,' amongst other delicacies, one would typically find in rural South Africa. The members of the public — young and old, established and aspirant farmers — were there in droves to feast on the Nampo activities.' Agri SA CEO, Johann Kotze, said farmers will always found opportunities and continue with what they know best—farming—regardless of what people say, locally and internationally. Visit:
The Citizen
14-05-2025
- The Citizen
Learners arrested for alleged theft from John Deere store at Nampo
Two learners from Hoërskool Klerksdorp in the North West were allegedly caught red-handed this morning after merchandise was stolen from the John Deere store at Nampo Park in Bothaville during the Nampo Harvest Day show. According to Farmer's Weekly, the learners, who cannot be identified as they are minors, were attending the show with their classmates as part of an educational school trip. Riaan Barnard, the owner of the John Deere store, which sells everything from toy trucks to branded T-shirts, confirmed the incident, saying that it was 'not unusual for teenage boys to steal from the store'. 'Our staff are trained to spot shoplifters and catch them in the act,' Barnard said. The police, who maintain a strong presence at Nampo Park, were alerted and arrested the boys within minutes. A female teacher from the school escorted the two learners to the police charge office. Police contacted their parents shortly afterwards. Barnard said the boys took keyrings and branded John Deere caps, although he could not estimate the exact value of the items. 'This is the first theft we've experienced at our store this week. I think it's a highly dangerous game these teenagers are playing. 'They initially denied everything, but we found the stolen items on them. Like typical teenagers, they had many excuses for their behaviour,' he added. Free State provincial police spokesperson Sergeant Martin Xuma confirmed the incident. 'The boys returned the stolen items, and the charges have been dropped,' he said. 'But I want to warn teenagers: Don't commit crime. A criminal record can haunt you for the rest of your life and seriously affect your chances of getting a job.' Lukas du Preez, the vice-principal of Hoërskool Klerksdorp, said the school was informed immediately by the supervising teacher, but declined to comment further on the matter. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
